Rep. John W. Mannion Tours ARA Member Facility GROWMARK

Sangerfield, N.Y.-- U.S. Representative John W. Mannion (D-N.Y.) recently toured GROWMARK FS’ facility in Sangerfield, New York, as part of the Agricultural Retailers Association’s (ARA) coordination of congressional facility visits for ARA members during congressional recess periods.

“New York’s farmers succeed when we support every part of the agricultural economy—from the inputs and supplies they rely on, to the workforce and policies that keep farms strong. At GROWMARK FS in Sangerfield, I saw firsthand how innovation and technology are helping to deliver the essentials that growers need across Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. I’ll keep working on the Agriculture Committee to ensure that farmers and rural communities have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Rep. John W. Mannion.

“Congressman Mannion is a lifelong resident of central New York and it was productive to share perspectives of the important role agriculture plays in his district and the state. The GROWMARK FS Sangerfield ag retail location provided a first-hand perspective of the work local professionals do with farmers in the area,” said Chuck Spencer, Executive Director, Government Relations, for GROWMARK.

“Congressman Mannion’s science teaching background showed when we were discussing agriculture’s advancements in precision agriculture, seed selection, and soil testing. He related to the science behind the practices and how important continuous improvement is for agriculture profitability,” said Kate Graves, GROWMARK FS Sangerfield Location Manager.

GROWMARK FS has two ag retail locations in Rep. Mannion’s district. The Sangerfield, N.Y., location hosts custom fertilizer spreading, spraying to control pests in the field, custom fertilizer blending, and seed for all the crops grown in the region. The local professionals have the knowledge and expertise to help farmers leverage their production strengths to improve on profitability.  

Rep. Mannion learned about the history of the cooperative and farmer involvement in shaping GROWMARK system, and learned about the type of seeds in demand in the region and their local impact.

He also saw a precision agriculture demonstration for the application of fertilizer and crop protection to learn the critical role precision ag technology plays in agricultural efficiency and profitability. 

“ARA was privileged to help plan Congressman Mannion’s recent visit to the GROWMARK FS location in Sangerfield. He saw firsthand the crossroads of science and technology that drive modern agriculture,” said Hunter Carpenter, ARA’s Senior Director of Public Policy. “As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, he is uniquely positioned to represent the needs of America’s farmers. Unified voices across the political spectrum on agricultural issues are essential to ensuring that we can continue to feed and clothe a growing global population.”

Learn more about GROWMARK here.

Learn more about ARA here.

###